Tokyo 2016 President lauds big budget ahead of D-Day

By Gerard Meagher, Sportsbeat, in Copenhagen

 TOKYO 2016 President Shintaro Ishihara is keeping his fingers crossed money talks at the IOC Session on Friday after claiming the Japanese capital could all but stump up the required cash for the 2016 Olympics tomorrow.

MONEY BAGS: Tokyo still believe their bulging budget could still hold the key

Perhaps Tokyo's key strength in their bid to stage the 2016 Games is the rude health of their finances - they have already banked the best part of $4bn, seemingly immune to the recession.

But Tokyo are many experts' also-rans at present, unable to command attention the same way Chicago and Rio have with their political heavyweights or samba charms.

Ishihara however, is far from convinced and believes Japan's newly-elected Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, as well as a bulging budget, can see the Games return to Asia in 2016.   

"I believe one of the great assets is the political strength behind our bid. Tomorrow Prime Minister Hatoyama will be leading our team," he said.

"He has only been in office two weeks so his presence is a significant sign of support for the Olympic and Paralympic Games at every level of Japanese government.

"They have made the strongest possible guarantees of support to the IOC.

"The support of my Tokyo Metropolitan Government is equally as strong. This really means something as we are a city of 34 million people and have the GDP equivalent to the 17th largest nation.

We could almost pay for the Games right now, as we now have four billion dollars in a hosting reserve fund.

"And I have made this commitment because I firmly believe in the power of sport and the power of the Olympic Games to help transform Tokyo and society as a whole."

Meanwhile, President of the Japanese Olympic Committee Tsunekazu Takeda also remains confident in Tokyo's chances and expects the IOC to stick to what they know in uncertain economic times.

"Tomorrow [presenting to the IOC] we will touch on many points but we will particularly stress the reliability and experience that the International Federations and National Olympic Committees can depend on in Japan," he added.

"This is a team committed to putting on an incredible celebration of sport in 2016. We also recognise that such a celebration must contribute to furthering the movement and its long-term goals."